Inflatable Airborne Manned/Unmanned Payload Delivery/Recovery Systems

Several objectives in this proposal include systematic study of innovative ways and means to improve survivability and safety of airborne platforms (C-130, C-17, Helicopter), flight crew, paratroops, cargo and equipment. High altitude deployment and glide operations, and airborne snatch and recovery of individuals or cargo from ground or water pick-up sites will also be studied. This proposal will determine feasibility of faster payload extraction from platforms at lower altitudes and greater speeds, and high altitude payload deployment of inflatable gliders for pinpoint landings. Innovative cone-shaped decelerator and impact shock attenuator and glider configurations will be studied, based on proven prototype test vehicles, to determine the best means for rapid extraction/deployment to reduce dispersion of landed payloads. Feasibility of self-contained, stand-alone personnel and cargo deployment/extraction hardware, and safe recovery of personnel/cargo payloads during airborne post-mission snatch/recovery of SOF missions will be defined and studied. Current airborne delivery systems/methods will be compared to proposed innovative inflatable delivery and recovery vehicles to verify proposed sytems advantages based on flight tests of existing flight tested inflatable systems. Objective results, findings and conslusions will be presented on completion of the feasibility study.